County may take first step to sell Sunnyview

October 19, 2013News Extra

Butler County is preparing for the potential sale of the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Included on the Wednesday agenda for a possible vote by the county commissioners is whether to hire Marcus & Millichap of Chicago to evaluate and market Sunnyview for sale.

The commissioners will discuss that issue at their Monday agenda-setting meeting, which starts at 9:30 a.m. in the commissioners meeting room on the fifth floor of the government center.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, said a sale is the best option financially because Sunnyview workers on Tuesday rejected concessions the county sought under a four-year contract with SEIU Healthcare that ends in December 2014.

McCarrier said it’s impractical for the county to continue subsidizing the deficit that Sunnyview carries.

“There’s no reason for government to be in that business,” he said.

Sunnyview, which is off Morton Avenue in Butler Township, is budgeted to lose $1.5 million this year.

The nursing home lost more than $800,000 in 2012.

Workers on Tuesday voted 134-5 opposing concessions, which included wages, a higher paycheck deduction for health insurance and reducing the number of sick and vacation days.